Automatically controlled coating device



Dec. 22, 1970 wu ETAL 3,549,267

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED COATING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1968 2ShGGtu-Shuet 1 Fig.7

D86. 22, 1970 WURZER ET AL 3,549,267

AUTOMATICALLY CQNTROLLED COATING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEW'Z ES Peg/ WM ,1,

United States Patent 3,549,267 AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED COATING DEVICEJoachim Franz Wurzer, Theodor Storm Str. 47; Rolf Werner Dohle,Paderborner Str. 11; and Wolfgang Werner Zaja, Woltmershauser Str. 200,all of 28 Bremen, Germany Filed Apr. 24, 1968, Ser. No. 723,752

Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 28, 1967,

W 43,870 Int. Cl. B44d 3/28 US. Cl. 401-147 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A device for coating a surface with a fluid includes a source'of fluid, a roller and flexible feeding pipe between the source androller. The device also includes means for controlling the rate of flowfor fluid to the roller in response to the speed of revolution of theroller.

This invention relates to a device for coating a surface with a fluidlike colours or solutions in which the feeding of the fluid from asource of fluid to a coating tool is controlled by a roller when rollingoff the surface to be coated.

In the known devices of this art a painting roller is combined with apaint pot in such a manner that it will take out paint and distribute iton the surface to be coated when rolling off the surface. In thesedevices the quantity of paint is automatically dependent on the velocityof work. However, there is a disadvantage that when coating largesurfaces the paint pot must be filled up frequently. Moreover the workis very diflicult by the con nection of the coating tool with the paintpot.

In German Pat. No. 1,246,480 of Wurzer et al., a flexible feeding pipeis arranged between the source of paint and the coating tool and aregulating unit for changing the flow of fluid and a control arrangementfor controlling said regulating unit is provided, said controlarrangement being operated by said roller when rolling off the surfaceto be coated. In this former device it is diflicult and troublesome tostart the flow of fluid through the long flexible pipe at the beginningof a working period.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a device of theart as defined above in which the fluid is fed through a flexible pipeof any length in a rapid and well proportioned manner, from beginning ofthe work and during the whole working period.

According to the invention this can be performed by that in a device forcoating a surface as stated above a flexible feeding pipe is arrangedbetween said source of fluid and said coating tool and a regulating unitfor changing the flow of fluid from said source to said coating tool anda control arrangement for controlling said regulating unit, said controlarrangement being operated by said roller when rolling off the surfaceto be coated in such a manner that the flow of fluid is increasing withan increase of number of revolutions of said roller, and that anadditional control arrangement for said regulating unit is provided bywhich said flow can be regulated independent of the rolling of saidroller off the surface to be coated.

In this manner it is possible to obtain a rapid feed of fluid alsothrough a long pipe and to regulate the further flow after arrival ofthe fluid at the coating tool in dependence of the speed of work duringthe whole working period.

The regulating unit preferably may consist of a flow switch within thefeeding pipe which is operated by the Patented Dec. 22, 1970 roller in arhythm dependent on the number of revolutions of the roller during timeintervals of predetermined length. In such a device it is possible toadjust the quantity of fluid also to other factors from which theoptimal quantity of fluid may depend on. This may be simply performed bymeans which are provided for changing the quantity of fluid in eachoperation interval, for instance a time switch. In connection with sucha device it is possible to choose a pump for a maximum of fluid quantityand then to adapt the flow of fluid to the speed of work and the othercircumstances in as broad borders as necessary.

The additional control arrangement consists of a selector switchincluding means for changing over from automatic regulation of flowdependent on the working speed of the coating tool to continuous flow offluid independent on the working speed.

If the coating tool consists of a coating roller a good distribution offluid fed through the feeding pi-pe over the whole surface of saidcoating roller may be obtained by a distributing roller which isarranged parallel to said coating roller and driven by said coatingroller whereas the outlet of the pipe is situated within the spacebetween the coating roller and the distributing roller. By such adistributing roller it is possible to get an even distribution of thefluid in spite of the pulselike feed of the fluid to the distributingroller and to avoid dropping down of fluid from the coating tool.

The above and other objects and advantages of the inveniion, will beclear from the following description, taken with reference to theaccompanying drawings which are given by way of example and in which.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is showing the coating tool of the device in a larger scale,

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a coating tool in another embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line VV of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the controlling device of the device according tothe invention,

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of a detail of the controlling device andFIG. 8 is a coating tool mounted on a carriage with automatic steering.

The device shown in FIG. 1 consists in general of a coating tool with acoating element 1 with support 2 and handle 3, a source of colour fluid4 with a container 5 and a colour pump 7 driven by an electric motor 6and moreover a flexible feeding pipe 8 connecting the source 4 and thecoating tool.

The coating tool consists in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 of a coatingroller 1 of known art which is rotatable in a support 2 about the axis 3and which is rotated when moved across the surface to be coated for asindicated by arrows in FIG. 3.

The colour is fed from the container 5 through pump 7, flexible pipe 8and a channel 9 within the handle 3 which is connected to a distributingpipe 10 arranged parallel to the coating roller 1 and provided with agroup of openings at the side towards the coating roller anddistributing roller. The distributing pipe 10 is fixed at its ends tothe shields of the coating roller 1 thus forming part of the support 2.

A second roller 11 of smaller diameter is arranged parallel to thecoating roller 1 rotatable within the support tool and working as adistributing roller. The distributing pipe 10 will give the colourwithin the space between the coating roller 1 and the distributingroller 11. Thereby a part of the colour may be fed immediately onto thesurface of the coating roller 1 and another part on the surface of thedistributing roller 11. The distributing roller 11 is driven by thecoating roller 1. For this purpose the distributing roller 11 maycontact the coating roller 1 with a certain pressure. However, it ispossible that the distributing roller 11 may be driven by a frictionalwheel or by a gear between the coating roller and the distributingroller. In the latter case the distributing roller at the side oppositeto the coating roller may be a gear driven in a direction opposite tothe direction of movement of the coating roller.

The coating roller is provided with an elastic and absorbent cover. Inthe same manner the distributing roller 11 may be absorbent for thecolour so that it will deliver colour to the surface of the coatingroller 1 during its rotation in an even manner.

Support 2 and handle 3 are connected detachable with one another. Forthis purpose the distributing pipe is provided with a channel 9 arrangedcoaxial to the pipe socket 12 flanged to the distributing pipe 10. Atthe free end of said pipe socket. 12 is arranged a joining plate 13which fits to the end of handle 3 and is connected to the handle by pinsand nuts 15. The pins are forming electricalcontacts for connection ofthe two conducters 16 of a controlling circuit including a switchingtube 17 arranged parallel to the distributing roller 11 within thesupport 2. The contacts 18 of this switching tube are connected at thepassing of a magnet 19 which is embedded in the distributing roller 11.With the shown ratio of diameters of the distributing roller and coatingroller the switch 17 is operated almost twice during each revolution ofthe coating roller 1 and will produce switching pulses within thecontrolling circuit 16 serving for controlling a regulating unit forchanging the flow of colour from the source 4 to the coating tool.

Th regulating unit consists of a flow switch 20 which is arranged withinthe pressure-line 21 of the pump 7 leading to the flexible pipe 8 andwhich is opened by an electromagnet 22 after each operation of switch 17during a more or less long time-interval. If the flow switch 20 isclosed the colour fed by pump 7' will flow back through a runback-line23 to the container 5.

The coil 24 of the electromagnet 22 is connected with a source ofcurrent 25 and switch 17 through a cable 26.

The intervals of opening of flow switch 20 are determined by periods ofcurrent in the coil 24. These periods of current are adjustable over abroad range by a potentiometer 27 provided within the discharge circuitof a condenser 28 which is charged by a current from current source 25at each operation of switch 17 and which immediately after eachoperation of switch 17 will discharge over potentiometer 27 and the coil24 more or less rapidly according to the adjustment of potentiometer 27.

A selector switch 29 is provided at handle 3 which is arranged withinthe discharging circuit of condenser 28. This selector switch containstwo parallel branches 30 and 31. In the first branch 30 is lying theswitch 17, condenser 28 and a switch 29 including two pushbuttons 33 and34 for switching off and on the automatic regulation of flow of colour.In the second branch 31 is lying switch 29 and which will connect thecurrent source 25 immediately with coil 24 as long as the button 34 ispushed down.

Therefore it is possible to operate immediately after beginning withoutautomatic regulation and with steady opened flow switch 20 until thecolour will have reached the distributor pipe and only then to changeover to automatic regulation by releasing the button 34 and pushing downthe button 33. The quantity of colour transported to the coating toolduring each operation of switch 17 by rotation of distributing roller 11can be adjusted during the automatic regulation by adjustingpotentiometer 27.

FIG. 7 shows a control switch 37 which is operated by a cam-disk 38connected with the distributing roller 11.

The coating element may exist of another colour-dispenser whatever andmay consist for instance as is shown 4 in FIGS. 4 and 5 of an elongatednozzle 39 combined with a brush with short bristles 40. In this caserollers 41 are arranged at both ends of the elongated nozzle 39, one ofwhich for instance the right one is provided with a switch magnet 19operating a switch 17 at the support of the nozzle.

The colour pump 7 is provided with an impeller 42 for circulation of thecolour within container 5. The circulation operation is active as longas pump 7 is driven by electromotor 6. Moreover a steady circulationtakes place within container 5 by the flow-back of colour through pipe23.

The electromotor 6 is lying in a separated circuit 43 with a switch 44for switching on and off the device and may be coupled withpotentiometer 27.

After beginning at first the circulation operation has to be switched onby switch 44. Then by pushing down button 34 flow switch 20 is openedand will remain opened until the colour will flow out the distributingpipe 10. Then the button 34 is released and button 33 is pushed down forchanging over to automatic operation during which the feeding of colouris regulated by the speed of work or rotation of control-roller 11 andduring this automatic regulation may be adjusted by adjustingpotentiometer 27.

FIG. 8 is showing in diagrammatic view a device in which a coating toolis mounted on a carriage 45. The

coating roller 1 is supported by a lever 46 which is arranged rotatablyabout an axis 47 on said carriage and is pressed against the surface tobe coated for instance by a spring so that the coating roller 1 willusually be in contact with the surface to be coated. By an electromagnet48 the lever 46 may be turned about axis 47 against the force of saidspring so that the coating roller 1 is lifted from the surface to becoated. This, for instance, will be necessary to bring the coatingroller 1 over from one to another course. For steering the carriage thisis provided with one driven wheel set 49, 50.? Wheels 49 and 50 may bedriven commonly or separately in the same or opposite direction fortransport of the carriage on a straight-on-direction or along a curve.The carriage besides the wheels of rolls 49, 50 is supported by balls 52on the surface to be coated. The carriage is held in contact with thesurface to be coated by magnetic means (not shown) and therefore is usedespecially for iron walls like that of ships.

The carriage and coating tool are connected by flexible line 53 with thesource of colour and a remote control for steering the carriage andoperating the electromagnet 48. The carriage may be combined with anautomatic control device by which it is steered in such a manner thatthe colour traces are joined together automatically. It will beunderstood that modifications and variations may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention. Especially arethat means for regulating the flow of fluid may be used for instancemeans for regulating the pressure within the feeding pipe or by using apump with an element for regulation of quantity. On the other hand thereguilation by changing the frequency or rhythm of openings of a flowswitch dependent on the number of rotations of a control roll inconnection with an additional adjustment of the length of openingintervals is advantageous on account of high efficiency and reliability.The -.conrtol means which are electrically operated in the shownembodiments may be operated pneumatically or hydraulically or by acontrol shaft. The distributing pipe may be provided with slots insteadof little openings because cleaning of slots can be performed by passingalong a cleaning pin. The fluid may be sprayed out the distributing pipe10 against the coating roll or distributing roll or it may flow onto thesurface of the distributing roll or coating roll dependent on theposition of the coating tool.

What is claimed is:

-1. Device for coating a surface with a fluid like colour or solutionsin which the feeding of the fluid from a source of fluid to a coatingtool is controlled by a roller when rolling off the surface to becoated, characterized in that a flexible feeding pipe is arrangedbetween said source of fluid and said coating tool and a regulating unitfor changing the flow of fluid from said source to said coating tool anda control arrangement for controlling said regulating unit, said controlarrangement being operated by said roller when rolling off the surfaceto be coated in such a manner that the flow of fluid is increasing withan increase of number of revolutions of said roller, and that anadditional control arrangement for said regulating unit is provided bywhich said flow can be regulated independent of the rolling of saidroller olf the surface to be coated.

2. Device as defined in claim 1, charatce rized in that the regulatingunit consists of a flow switch Within the feeding pipe which is operatedby the roller in a rhythm dependent on the number of revolutions of theroller during time intervals of predetermined length.

3. Device as defined in claim 2, characterized in that means areprovided for changing the quantity of fluid in each operation interval.

4. Device as defined in claim 3, characterized. in that said meansconsist of a time switch.

5. Device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said additionalcontrol arrangement consists of a selector switch including means forchanging over from automatic regulation of flow dependent on the workingspeed of the coating tool to continuous flow of fluid independent of theworking speed.

6. Device as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the controlbuttons of said selector switch are arranged at the handle of thecoating tool.

7. Device as defined in calim 5, characterized in that the selectorswitch is provided with a position for circalation of fluid within thesource of fluid at simutlaneous interrutpion of flow from the source tothe coating tool.

8. Device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said coating toolconsists of a coating roller.

9. Device as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said coating toolis said roller operating said control arrangement for controlling saidregulating unit.

10. Device as defined in claim 8, characterized in that a distributingroller is arranged parallel to said coating roller and driven by saidcoating roller.

11. Device as defined in claim 10, characterized in that the outlet ofthe pipe is situated within the space between the coating roller anddistributing roller.

12. Device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said coatingtool consists of an elongated nozzle.

13. Device as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the coating toolis mounted at a carriage to be guided automatically or by teleautomaticsacross the surface to be coated and including means for being heldmagnetically at the surface to be coated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 489,828 1/1893 Peterson 401 1472,775,952- 1/1957 Schur 1188 3,036,327 5/1962 Crawford 401-187X3,320,630 5/1967 Furlong 401-147 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,246,480 8/1967Germany 401-220 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner R. 1. SMITH,Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R.

